May, 2015 - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy May 29, 2015

Spa at the Four Seasons Toronto

I am a girl that loves the spa, so I make a point of spending a few hours getting pampered once every couple months to recharge. I love the Four Seasons Toronto – I was there last year for the Toronto Life Most Stylish Party, and I have been to one of their fabulous charcuterie nights at d|bar on a Monday which was so much fun, and I’ve had dinner in their restaurant Café Boulud as well.

How could I have not visited their spa before? I had seen photos of what it had to offer, and I decided it was time to check it out for myself.

First of all, I loved their easy booking system. You can look at the spa menu online and see what time you can book your appointment for. I loved this – booking online really saves you the hassle of calling in and throwing around dates and times that may or may not work.

Parking is so easy at the Four Seasons Toronto because they have valet parking, plus it’s discounted if you are spending time at the spa. I planned on doing some shopping after and everything worked out great because I could park up to 4 hours for only $15. That’s a great rate for parking in Yorkville.

The staff at the Four Seasons Toronto are so friendly – from the moment they open your car door, everyone is so ready to help! The driver who took my car insisted on throwing out my empty Starbucks (I told him I could do it myself but he insisted!), then I was walked inside, and inside I was met by someone directing me to the proper elevator.

The spa itself is gorgeous! I had a tour of all the facilities including an indoor pool, private outdoor deck just for spa guests, a hot tub, steam rooms, showers, lounging areas – the place was a maze.

They had biscotti snacks and fruit-flavoured water in some of the lounge areas, all of the latest magazines to puruse, and so many different areas to relax in that I almost couldn’t decide.

I had a one hour deep tissue massage, and before my service I went to the massage waiting area which was a very zen experience. Candles were lit, the room was dark with soothing music, and the lounge beds were very comfortable.

For my massage itself I was able to sample the scents they would be using throughout the service, and I had a few choices to make. I could also choose music from a menu thay had which was a nice touch.

My massage was absolultely amazing. I was a happy girl – all of those shopping bags I’m usually carrying, plus a toddler that I lug around on a daily basis haven’t been doing good things for my back, so it was nice to relax and get pampered.

I wound down again in some of the different lounge areas before I left the spa in a significantly better mood.

If you are interested in getting pampered yourself, I highly recommend the spa at the Four Seasons Toronto! I am hoping to stay there a night this summer to see what it’s like to be a guest in the hotel since I have tried most of their other amenities and have been impressed by them.

For more details on the spa, please visit their website here.

Roxymandy May 28, 2015

Review of eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss!

To be completely honest, I never use shaving cream! It’s something I have somehow gotten away without using over the years, and if I happen upon it in a Christmas stocking or a gift bag then I give it a whirl. I am never that girl who has hairy legs in the dead of winter. I MUST have shaved legs at all times! You never know when are going to wear a short skirt – even in the winter! This little vice of mine of keeping up on my grooming makes it even more suprising that I don’t have a shaving cream that I love or need.

When I was sent the eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss, I really wanted to give it an honest try to see what all of the hype was about.

First of all – I love vanilla anything, so the Vanilla Bliss scent was a bonus! I also liked that the container had a great pump so it was easy to apply. When you are in the shower and working with razor blades, things need to be easy!

I really like that this shave cream doesn’t require water – now that is a time saver! I gave it a try and it worked well without water. In the shower was the best because the room filled with the vanilla scent which made me happy.

The shave cream claimed to moisturize for up to 24 hours, so I thought I would test this theory. I shaved one leg with just my regular razor, and my other leg using the shaving cream to see if there was a difference.

I hate to say it, but there really was a difference. One leg felt so much smoother and softer than the other – the one I used the shaving cream with. It seemed to keep moisture in for a whole day, which really surprised this girl who never uses shaving cream.

This shave cream is perfect for a girl on the go like myself! If you are headed out the door and need a quick touch up you can easily just add some eos Ultra Moisturizing Shaving Cream, do a quick shave and head out the door to whatever fabulous destination you have planned! Or if you are like me, maybe you are going no where fabulous, like just on a quick ice cream run but noticed you missed a spot on your legs – in those obsessive compulsive moments you don’t need to waste more precious moments worrying about it. Shave and go without water!

Unfortunately I now identify with those who think shaving cream is a must-have. I loved the smell, and how moisturized my legs were after shaving with it. It really impressed me, and now it’s part of my ever-growing beauty arsenal.

The eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream also comes in Pomegranate Raspberry and Lavender Jasmine. So if you are looking to add something to that Christmas stocking I was talking about earlier, send a couple more flavours my way please! It retails for approximately $4.50 CDN.

You can learn more about eos and their fabulous shave cream here.

Disclaimer: I was provided this product for review, but all opinions are fabulously my own.

Roxymandy May 27, 2015

I’m A Graham & Brown Brand Ambassador + Northern Rose Wallpaper Styling

I’m so excited that I will be a Brand Ambassador for Graham & Brown this year! Have you heard of them before? They are a UK based company, but they ship their amazing home products all over the world. They have everything to decorate your home from wallpaper, décor, accessories and paint. Each month I will be talking about design trends, and how to incorporate those trends into your own home décor using Graham & Brown.

Some of their décor items are fabulous. There are so many things I want to buy! Their wallpaper selection is incredible I love that you can order a larger sample of the wall paper you like to ensure you are making the right choice for your home project.

I especially like their Inspiration & Advice section on their website. It has all kinds of tips and tutorials for all things décor.

The brand has been around since 1946, so they know a thing or two about home décor!

Graham & Brown’s wallpaper of the year for 2015 is Northern Rose, and I’m obsessed with it.

Ever since I read this past article on The Coveteur about the closet of Suzanne Rogers, I have been inspired to redecorate my walk-in closet in a similar way. I use a bedroom in our home as a closet, and although I already have the clothing racks up, I still need to decorate the room.

Northern Rose would fit perfectly with my theme inspired by Marie Antoinette.

Whenever I am doing a project at home (or sometimes even when I am shopping I create a mood board to help me organize my ideas. I created one for my closet revamp using inspiration from Graham & Brown’s Northern Rose wallpaper, and it’s getting me excited to start curating my décor for my beautiful closet!

Stay tuned to the blog for more trends from Graham & Brown, exclusive Twitter parties, and other sweet perks over the next year!

Follow Graham & Brown on social media channels here:

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram

Roxymandy May 26, 2015

The Children’s Discovery Centre Toronto

This weekend my son and I headed to a media preview for the new Children’s Discovery Centre in Toronto. It opened this Saturday to the public at noon, and now it’s open daily 9:30am-4:30pm. The Centre is located in the Garrison Point neighbourhood at 45 Strachan Avenue in Toronto, but it’s only a temporary location until September 30th, 2015. If this pilot project goes well, a permanent location may pop up in the future as well.

There are 10 themed Discovery Zones, and it’s 20,000 square feet in total so there is lot’s to see and do! The centre is meant for children 6 and under which was awesome! If you have a child that age you know what it’s like when older children are around on the playground – sometimes they push, shove, or just play harder than younger children in general. It was nice to have kids in the same age group hanging out in the same space.

My son’s favourite Discovery Zone was the Mini City. It included kid-sized streets with bikes, trikes and wagons that they could maneuver on the roadway. It also included a construction zone with rocks, shovels, trucks, and construction outfits.

Some of the other rooms included the Make Believe room with a full sized theatre complete with dress up clothing, Maya’s Storyland with books and reading nooks and forts to lounge and read, Pet Vet which is a child-size replica of a veterinary clinic complete with an x-ray machine, and the Art Hive with wall-sized easels, a squeegee wall, and a section with cardboard boxes to make anything imaginable.

Some of my son’s other favourites included The Campground where you could build a tent and go fishing in a canoe, the Boom Room which had a wall where you could bang household objects to make music, Eat Street where children could shop for groceries, make dinner in a kitchen, and set the table for a meal, and Imagination Station which had a felt tile building system and an interactive building system called Imagination Playground.

There was so much to do! You could spend all day in this place just moving station to station. There was plenty of room between Zones so even when things got busy when it became open to the public, there was still lots of room to play!

What I loved were the Quiet Rooms, where family’s could go to take a break. They included a couch, and the door could be closed for a bit of privacy if someone wanted to nurse.

There were also plenty of bathrooms scattered in the building so there would be no waits for those kids still working on potty training

The Sago Mini Pet Café was a big hit with my son – he LOVES all of the Sago Mini Apps. As soon as we walked into the café, he went right for the small door on the wall to see what was inside. He remembered from the Sago Mini Fairy Tale App that something was often behind little doors that looked like that in the game. He loved that every time he opened the door a different Sago Mini character appeared to say hello!

The café is meant for family’s to bring a lunch and relax from all of the playing. It was complete with child-sized tables for the kids.

The cost of entry is $13.00 per person (children 1 year and under are free), and I personally thought it was well worth it! It was a pretty incredible place for children of this age group, and there were lots of friendly staff (trained facilitators with educational backgrounds including ECE’s or teachers) on hand to read, play, or just to add a helping hand.

Most of the rooms also had spots for babies to play as well which I thought was genius – how many parents of two or three children have a hard time finding a space to play where both children have something to do? Either the older child is stuck in the baby play area, or vice versa. This way a parent could have their toddler playing in a room, and also have a space for their baby to play as well.

There is a small amount of parking on site. I was lucky and could park on the street for free (with the help of a lovely construction worker who moved a pylon for me!), but otherwise there are a few parking lots within walking distance. This location is close to Liberty Village where there are a few great spots for lunch as well. And there is stroller parking just inside the centre!

For more information on the Children’s Discovery Centre, visit them on their website here, or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Roxymandy May 23, 2015

Sweetpea Organic Cookie Review

Sometimes it’s fun to pick up the mail at my house, especially when it ends up being a treat for my son. He usually tries opening up all of my packages anyway, but this time it was something for both of us.

Sweetpea Organic Cookies are a much healthier option to regular cookies – they are organic, vegan, made with 100% whole grain, and have no preservatives. They are also produced in a nut-free bakery. They have no dairy, eggs, salt, and are certified kosher.

I am always travelling with snacks. I rarely leave the house without one when I have my son or we will likely have a meltdown on our hands.

I love that these Sweetpea Organic Cookies have a re-sealable bag – it’s so much easier to grab and go that way! Normally things that are this easy to pack are usually processed or are really not a healthy option, but luckily these organic cookies are a pretty healthy treat.

There are three flavours – Pumpkin Spice, Banana Pear and Sweet Apple. My son tried them all, amd liked them all! It was nice to have a snack for him that I liked as well. I really liked the Pumpkin Spice cookies!

The packaging is cute as well, and claims the cookies are for kids 1 – 101. The re-sealable packaged realy seemed to keep the cookies fresh after the bag was opened for a few days which was great.

To try out these cookies yourself, you can purchase them online from Beretta Farms at www.berettafarms.com or you can check out their website for in-store retailers such as Whole Foods and Pusateri’s.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review, but my opinions are fabulously my own.